Baseball Field Dimensions
Baseball fields are one of the most iconic sporting fields American sports has to offer. However, there can be a good deal of variance regarding the overall dimensions of the field. Read on to learn about the dimensions of a baseball field.
What Are the Dimensions of a Baseball Field?
The dimensions of a baseball field will vary slightly based on the level of play. The dimensions will also depend on the ballpark or stadium, since not every component of the field is defined by a specific measurement. When discussing the layout and size of a baseball field, the most important dimensions are:
- The size of the diamond
- The distance from home plate to the outfield fence
- The distance between the bases
- The length of the foul lines
MLB Dimensions
Across Major League Baseball, there are certain field dimensions that teams use for their ballparks. While some fields may not always fit into this range in the outfield due to their early construction, nearly all new ballparks will follow these standards.
Here are the dimensions of an MLB field:
- The diamond measures 90 feet on all sides
- Home plate to centerfield is 400 feet or more
- Home plate to the nearest fence is 325 feet or more
- The foul lines have a length of 320 feet or more
- The rubber on the pitcher’s mound measures 24 inches x 6 inches and is a distance of 60 feet and 6 inches to home plate
- The bases are securely fastened to the ground and measure 18 inches on all sides
- Each base is 90 feet apart from adjacent bases
- Opposite bases, like first base and third base, are 127 feet and 3.375 inches apart
Since June 1, 1958 every field made for a professional club needs to meet a minimum distance of 325 feet from home plate to the nearest fence and 400 feet to the center field fence. However, there's an exception with Yankee Stadium, which measures 314 feet from home plate to the outfield fence.
Little League Dimensions
In Little League baseball, the field is often smaller than a professional MLB field. Little League is a youth baseball league with lots of different age brackets: anywhere from ages 4-7 up to 13-16.
Common Little League field dimensions are:
- The distance between the bases is 60 feet
- Distance from home plate to the ballpark fence is anywhere from 200-275 feet
- The pitcher’s mound to home plate is 46 feet
Baseball Outfield Dimensions
Unlike the dimensions of an infield, an outfield’s dimensions can vary greatly from level to level and park to park. Typically, the deepest part of any baseball outfield is centerfield. Meanwhile, the left and right field corners are the closest to home plate. There is no exact metric for the distance of each ballpark's outfield fence from home plate. Even the height can vary, making baseball fields one of the only sports fields that do not have exact dimensions.
However, there are a few general outfield dimensions worth noting:
- In Little League, the outfield fence at any point must be more than 200 feet but less than 275 feet from the back point of home plate
- MLB stadiums are typically at least 400 feet in center field and between 320 and 350 feet in left and right field
- In Major League Baseball, the deepest centerfield fence is Comerica Park in Detroit (420 feet), and the shallowest is Fenway Park in Boston (390 feet)
- The deepest right field is Wrigley Field in Chicago (353 feet), and the shallowest is Fenway Park in Boston (302 feet)
- The deepest left field is Wrigley Field in Chicago (355 feet), and the shallowest is Fenway Park in Boston (310 feet)
- Fenway Park features the oddest outfield wall in Fenway in left field, known as “The Green Monster,” a massive wall that stands 37 feet tall
PONY League Age System Field Dimensions
Below is a table breaking down the various measurements on a baseball field at multiple age levels under the new PONY League age system:
| Age Group | Baseline | Home to Second (Center of Base) | Home to Pitcher’s Mound | Foul Lines | Home to Center Field | First Base to Third Base Across |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foal (3-4) | 50 ft. | 70 ft., 8 ½ in. | 38 ft. | 125 ft. minimum to fence | 200+ ft. | 70 ft., 8 ½ in. |
| Shetland (5-6) | 50 ft. | 70 ft., 8 ½ in. | 38 ft. | 125 ft. minimum to fence | 200+ ft. | 70 ft., 8 ½ in. |
| Pinto (7-8) | 60 ft. | 84 ft., 10 in. | 38 ft. | 125 ft. minimum to fence | 200+ ft. | 84 ft., 10 in. |
| Mustang (9-10) | 60 ft. | 84 ft., 10 in. | 46 ft. | 175 ft. minimum to fence | 225+ ft. | 84 ft., 10 in. |
| Bronco (11-12) | 70 ft. | 99 ft. | 50 ft. | 225 ft. minimum to lines | 275+ ft. | 99 ft. |
| Pony (13-14) | 80 ft. | 113 ft., 2 in. | 54 ft. | 265 ft. minimum to lines | 315+ ft. | 113 ft., 2 in. |
| Colt (13-16) | 90 ft. | 127 ft., 3 in. | 60 ft., 6 in. | 300 ft. minimum to fence | 350+ ft. | 127 ft., 3 in. |
| Palomino (15-18) | 90 ft. | 127 ft., 3 in. | 60 ft., 6 in. | 300 ft. minimum to fence | 350+ ft. | 127 ft., 3 in. |
| Thorobred (17-23) | 90 ft. | 127 ft., 3 in. | 60 ft., 6 in. | 300 ft. minimum to fence | 350+ ft. | 127 ft., 3 in. |
Tee Ball and Little League Field Dimensions
Below are the more consistent measurements used under the Little League System:
| Age Group | Baseline | Home to of Second | Home to Pitcher’s Mound | Foul Lines | Home to Center Field | First Base to Third Base Across |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tee Ball | 50 ft. | 70 ft., 8 ½ in. | n/a | 125 ft. minimum to fence | 200+ ft. | 70 ft., 8 ½ in. |
| Standard Little League | 60 ft. | 99 ft. (to center of base) | 46 ft. | 200-275 ft. | 200-275 ft. | 99 ft. |
FAQ
Are high school fields the same size as MLB parks?
Surprisingly enough, high school fields are actually very similar in dimension to MLB parks. The basepaths and distance between the pitcher’s mound and home plate are the same, and even the outfield distances lie in a similar range.
How big are MLB bases?
MLB bases are all a standard size from park to park, with each base formed as an 18-inch square. Additionally, each base is between three and five inches thick. The only exception is home plate.
Are all professional fields the same size?
All professional fields vary in size, specifically in regard to the distance of the outfield walls from home plate and the height of the outfield walls. That being said, the distance between bases, the size of the bases, and the distance between the pitcher's mound and home are all consistent.